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locale: en_US
title: Boating in Boston
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html_text: Boating in Boston drops oars in seven locations—including local lakes, ponds, the Charles River, and Boston Harbor—sending visitors on watery adventures with a fleet of canoes, kayaks, sailboats, pedal boats, paddleboards, and festive and essential lifejackets. Whether navigating the peaceful waters of Hopkinton State Park's Hopkinton Reservoir—the place that, in 2002, started it all—or campus-adjacent eddies of UMass Boston's Fox Point Landing, visitors can hit the water untrained or sharpen skills with solo or group lessons. The crew of instructors also instills a love of boating in the littlest landlubbers with youth summer camps that teach basic skills and safety.

Hitting some rough seas in your life? Take some time to unwind on one of the many lovely boats at Foote Brothers Canoe Rentals in Ipswich.
Pick up a tasty meal at their restaurant, located conveniently within the center.
This center welcomes kids, too, so you can feel good about bringing the whole family.
Brush up on your parallel parking skills — the center's Topsfield Rd location offers nearby street parking.

A day with Fishaholiks isn't your typical fishing trip. Things start early, with groups learning to cast nets, forage for bait, and paddle their kayaks. The latter—along with bikes—allow the guides and their clients to access some of the best urban fishing destinations in the Boston area. Guides help men and women fish for freshwater species such as northern pike, as well as saltwater species such as striped bass. The use of kayaks also offers an eco-friendly alternative to fishing from motorized boats.

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locale: en_US
title: Salem Kayak
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The first swish of the paddle when seated inside one of Salem Kayak's vessels unlocks a whole new world. That simple act of water displacement can take a person to nearby islands, into the nesting places of seagulls, or down the treelined banks of the Danver's River. Salem Kayak's location on Winter Island Maritime Park grants easy access to all of these destinations, which guides and groups explore on eight different tours.
Of course, people need to master the basics before they can chart their own aquatic adventures. Salem Kayak has that covered as well. Their instructors lead classes for complete beginners, which cover every step, from choosing the right gear (recreational or ocean kayaks), to basic navigation, to problem solving while out on the water. From there, paddlers can move on to the elements of forward and backwards strokes, or learn to navigate around the large rocks that Mother Nature placed by the shore for safe-keeping.

In the early ’70s, Boston-area resident Mike Farny dreamed of creating affordable outdoor recreational activities for his community to enjoy. Today, on-staff guides lead tours of the Charles River and Boston Harbor to educate participants in ecosystem conservation, view the skyline and sunset, or explore historic structures. Select trips also include lunch to fuel participants as they navigate difficult waterways and jump through flaming hoops. To prepare customers entering the water for the first time, instructors coach riders of all levels in private or group lessons at the paddling school, which draws on more than 30 years of instructional tradition. Staffers can also equip boaters in the shop—where P&H kayaks hang alongside paddleboards and Wenonah canoes, dreaming of one day being the inspiration for a traditional sea chantey. Crew members help clients choose their ride and accessories from these selections and others through free daily demonstrations.

Since its inception as a nonprofit organization in 1985, Community Rowing Inc. has guided more than 15,000 students in invigorating rowing sessions held on the Charles River. Their experienced staff of Olympians and coaches helps students to become familiar with industry-standard boats and rowing machines through comprehensive introductory lessons and extended handshakes with the rowing arms. After gleaning the skills necessary to properly use equipment, students gain access to locker rooms, training areas, and any additional courses on the Charles River. The full-body, calorie-burning workouts are available throughout the week, allowing students to learn essential techniques such as sweeping, sculling, and dealing peacefully with the water road rage of aggressive gondoliers.

Groupon Guide

Good canoe-paddling form won’t just improve your maneuvering in the water; it’ll also save you energy and, potentially, injury. Whether renting a canoe for an afternoon or making the most of a lakeside getaway, start by following these four tips on how to paddle a canoe most effectively.1. Good posture will get you everywhere. The better aligned your body is, the more efficient your strokes will be. By sitting up straight as you paddle, you help direct your power to your bigger muscle groups—the chest, abs, hips, and butt—and keep your arms from going noodly too soon. 2. Hold your paddle right. If you’re paddling on the left side of your body, paddle with your left hand just above where the paddle’s shaft meets the blade (called the throat), and with your right hand at the top-end of the shaft and the top of your hand facing the sky. When paddling on your right side, reverse that. Your arms should stay about an arm’s length apart—use your third arm to measure. 3. Keep your paddle vertical. This is another way to maximize efficiency: by keeping it upright and parallel to the boat as you pull, you’ll both move the maximum amount of water and keep yourself moving straight forward, rather than off to one side where the eels nest. 4. Use short strokes. Despite a natural tendency for many folks to make long strokes, short strokes work better. With each stroke pull only as far back as your knees before lifting your paddle out of the water to start a new stroke. Beyond that point, the stroke becomes weaker and less able to efficiently pull you through the water.Keep Paddling With These Related ReadsFloat On: An Intro to Kayak BasicsNot Going to Summer Camp? Then Bring Summer Camp to You.

Kayaks may have a long history—Alaskan seal hunters were using them more than 4,000 years ago—but only in the last decade have they begun to challenge canoes for supremacy among America’s recreational paddlers. That changing popularity gap is partly due to vacationers, who appreciate kayaks’ ability to silently sneak up on wildlife, and partly to athletes, who are drawn to them for their emphasis on upper-body strength. It also helps that the fiberglass or plastic vessels sit low to the water and tend to be more stable and easy to maneuver than canoes. But before you hop into the water, some kayak basics are in order. Paddle The double-bladed paddles that propel kayaks come in a range of styles: feathered blades cut down on wind resistance during a stroke, curved blades increase stroke power, and flat blades direct the water around the surface upon contact.HullWhitewater kayaks, with short, rounded hulls and soft chines (that is, the curve of the sides) enable pilots to execute tricks and rolls in rough water. Surf kayaks are similar, but their front ends curve up more sharply for better maneuverability in high waves. Used in coastal waters, such as those off the shores of Hawaii, sea-touring kayaks possess flat hulls and sharp chines to stay upright in choppy waters.CockpitMany kayaks have enclosed cockpits, which allow the pilot to roll upright when capsized—a maneuver that takes a while to master but can be a major asset when negotiating rapids. Alternatively, sit-on-top kayaks leave paddlers exposed but free to exercise greater mobility, preferable for gently cruising calm waters.Related ReadsHeading Out to Sea? We Ask a Sailor Which Boat You Should Captain